Tony Jones of Boeing: Giving back to the community is 'the right thing to do'

Dave Dieter/The Huntsville TimesTony Jones is vice president for operations and site executive for Boeing in Huntsville.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Why is it important to give back to the community? Here's why, in the view of Tony Jones, vice president for operations and site executive for Boeing in Huntsville:

Because when you've been in Huntsville for almost 50 years, as Boeing has, you believe in being strong partners in the community. You believe it's "in our DNA," as Jones puts it.

Because when you've got 2,700 employees, larger than any aerospace company in Huntsville and Alabama, you've got lasting ties to churches, schools and other important institutions in town.

"There are a lot of strong programs," Jones said. "You as a business must choose the right ones - the ones that benefit the community. You also have to use all the tools. We look at using all of our important tools."

Because of Boeing's prominence, size and history in the community, there are several tools.

The company invests about $3 million a year in the state of Alabama. About 36 percent of that is through employee engagement programs.

Those programs include the Employee Community fund, gift matching and volunteering hours to various community organizations.

The other 64 percent is Boeing money that is invested into the community through grants and sponsorships - along with contributions to charities, local colleges and universities, community events and the continuing education of employees.

"It's not just monetary," Jones said. "It's shoulder-to-shoulder in times of need."

It's about committing volunteer hours and donating clothes, food and ice, among other things, after the April 27 tornadoes.

Jones recalls volunteering after the tornadoes. When he went to check in at one of the volunteer sites, he was greeted by a Boeing employee who was checking in other volunteers.

"One of our employees was a first-responder in Harvest," Jones said. "I don't think it's just Boeing. The North Alabama culture is to help your neighbor. It's the way they've grown up.

"If you want to live here, you have to be part of the team. It's the right thing for Boeing or any company to step up to the challenge. You're seeing that."

Tina Watts, Boeing's Alabama community investor, said the company is also active in local schools. "We do have a lot of young professionals who mentor in elementary schools," she said. "These are sharp, young engineers who we call our Reach group."

She said the company also has major volunteer employee drives. Among them are backpack donations and large donations to food banks.

Jones said Boeing also helps teachers "keep pace with technology" advances. There are educational programs such as the Boeing Educators to Space Academy, in which teachers from all over the world come here for a one-week program.

"They leave here with the tools to teach math and science," Jones said.

A long history of community service and volunteerism has a dual purpose, in his estimation: By pulling together, by trying to strengthen the community, the company grows stronger, too.

"It's true," he said. "It's the right thing to do. We're stepping up when we should be.